Austrobuxus alticola is a shrub endemic from New Caledonia. It is restricted to the north-east part of Grande Terre where it is known from eight subpopulations : Ponandou, Tonine, Tchingou,Panié, La Guen, Colnett, Ignambi, Amoss. It is found in humid forest on volcano-sedimentary substrate at an altitudinal 300-1,600 m asl. The lower elevation subpopulations can be impacted by uncontrolled bushfires but globally this species does not seem threatened. Its area of occupancy (AOO) and extent of occurrence (EOO) being estimated to be 56 and 991 km², respectively, and it is known from a small number of locations. Therefore Austrobuxus alticola is considered Near Threatened (NT) close to VU B1ab(iii,v)+2ab(iii,v) with an estimated decline of quality of habitat quality and number of mature individuals.

Geographical area

Austrobuxus alticola is endemic to New Caledonia where it is restricted to the north-east part of Grande Terre and it is known from eight subpopulations : Ponandou, Tonine, Tchingou,Panié, La Guen, Colnett, Ignambi, Amoss.

Population

The population size is not known.

Habitat

This species occurs in humid forest on volcano-sedimentary substrate at an altitudinal of 300-1,600 m asl.

Threats

The lower elevation subpopulations can be impacted by uncontrolled bushfires but globally this species does not seem threatened.

Conservation

Austrobuxus alticola is not protected by legislation in New Caledonia but it does occur in one protected area : Mont Panié.

Bibliography

Morat, P.; Jaffré, T.; Tronchet, F.; Munzinger, J.; Pillon, Y.; Veillon, J.-M. and Chalopin, M. 2012. Le référentiel taxonomique Florical et les caractéristiques de la flore vasculaire indigène de la Nouvelle-Calédonie [The taxonomic database « FLORICAL » and characteristics of the indigenous flora of New Caledonia]. Adansonia sér 3(34) , p.177-219.

Munzinger J., Morat Ph., Jaffré T., Gâteblé G., Pillon Y., Rouhan G., Bruy, D., Veillon J.-M., & M. Chalopin 2020. FLORICAL: Checklist of the vascular indigenous flora of New Caledonia [continuously updated].

Endemia.nc 2016. Faune et Flore de Nouvelle-Calédonie.

Experts

Assessor(s): Amice, R., Bruy, D., Cazé, H., Garnier, D., Laudereau, C., Mandaoué, L., Eltabet, N., Vandrot, H.

Reviewer(s): Gâteblé, G.

Facilitator(s): Fourdrain, A., Warimavute, G.